After a previous OLLI class on The Sound and the Fury, members wanted to pursue another of Faulkner’s novels. As I Lay Dying continues his inquiry into the Southern mind and culture using literary techniques both unique and controversial (stream of consciousness, interior monologue and multiple narrators). In this book, published in 1930, Faulkner turned to a more assessable dark-comedy mode, yet retained his profound inspection of the Southern Gothic soul. The novel will be divided in half for discussion. Faulkner fans know how a class discussion enhances one's understanding; and if you have never read Faulkner, or only read a short story or two, this class will be an excellent place to be introduced to his novels.
Recommended text: As I Lay Dying: The Corrected Text published by Vintage. Available at The Avid Reader or Amazon.com.